[Advaita-l] The Karnikara flower garland - of Shiva

[V Subrahmanian]

In the Shiva Sahasra Naama of the Mahabharatha there occurs this name:

 *कर्णिकारमहास्रग्वी* नीलमौलिः पिनाकधृत् । उमापतिरुमाकान्तो
जाह्नवीधृगुमाधवः ॥ १३७॥

The first word:  *कर्णिकारमहास्रग्वी means 'Shiva is adorned with a large
garland made of karnikAra flowers.' *

*In Tamil Sangam literature the flower is called 'Kondrai' and Shiva is
said to be wearing a garland of this flower. *

http://www.tamilvu.org/courses/diploma/p202/p2021/html/p2021102.htm

*The Tamil 'Kondrai' is the Sanskrit 'karNikAra'.  The flower along with
its tree and varieties,is shown in this picture:*

*https://shaivam.org/sv/sv_konrai.htm
<https://shaivam.org/sv/sv_konrai.htm> *

http://aumarul.blogspot.in/2017/01/blog-post_19.html


There is this verse in the Srimadbhagavatam where Krishna wears the
KarNikAra flower as a ear decor:

*बर्हापीडं* नटवरवपुः कर्णयोः *कर्णिकारं विभ्रद्वासः* कनककपिशं वैजयन्तीं च
मालाम्। रन्ध्रान् वेणोरधरसुधया पूरयन् गोपवृन्दै- र्वृन्दारण्यं स्वपदरमणं
प्राविशद् गीतकीर्तिः।।

The Kondrai is called konnai in Kerala and is very popular for use in
temples.

Om Tat Sat